Abstract
Purpose: :
To report our experience with multiple injections of dexamethasone 0.7 mg sustained-release intravitreal implant (Ozurdex(®); Allergan, Inc, Irvine, CA) for the treatment of macular edema (ME) associated with retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
Methods: :
A retrospective chart review of patients with RVO treated with at least two sustained-release dexamethasone 0.7 mg intravitreal implants was performed. Efficacy of treatment was determined by complete ophthalmic examination including Snellen visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness as measured by spectral domain ocular coherence tomography (OCT).
Results: :
Eight eyes of eight patients treated with a total of 23 dexamethasone 0.7 mg sustained-release intravitreal implants were included. Patients were followed at regular intervals, and retreatment was based on recurrence of ME on OCT and/or worsening of VA. All patients responded with improvement in VA and decrease in ME. On average, time to retreatment was 23.2 weeks (median, 20.3 weeks; range, 16.0-41.0 weeks). Patients received an average of 2.9 total injections, with one patient receiving 5 treatments. One patient developed a visually significant cataract following multiple injections; no other serious ocular or systemic adverse events were noted during the follow-up period. No patients in this series required intraocular pressure lowering therapy.
Conclusions: :
In patients with recurrent macular edema in the setting of retinal vein occlusion, multiple sustained-release dexamethasone 0.7 mg intravitreal implants provide an effective treatment option that is well tolerated.
Keywords: retina • vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease • corticosteroids